PROPHET(PBUH), NUPUR SHARMA, and THE GROWING HATRED

- June 13, 2022

CONTEXT: The comment made by Nupur Sharma on Prophet (PBUH), has taken a dreadful turn, and is continuing to spread just more hatred.

Before starting this blog let me clear that I'm a muslim and I very well know the meaning of Islam.

Now let's come to the point, we all know how the statement has once again resuscitated the enmity between different sections of people and given a free pass to people of both sides to satisfy their ego and insecurities in the name of religion.

But, is hanging Nupur's effigy in Karnataka, pelting stones, shooting and beating the protesters mercilessly, bulldozing the houses, the right way to deal with this?

First of all, who are we to decide Nupur's punishment? Ain't we have an independent judiciary? Ain't we the same people who were demanding for Munawar's release? (though it's a different matter that he got arrested as soon as possible, and here Nupur is still free).

Yes, you can take a stand for Prophet(PBUH), but also remember that he was the one who used to spread kindness even towards the lady who used to throw garbage on him; he was the one who always preached to respect women no matter what, to choose peace over violence; and here people are just spreading this hatred in his name. If you seriously think that these actions are going to make him happy, then you never followed the way he lived and what he preached throughout his life.

And once for all, lets get it clear that neither Islam nor any other religion is weak enough to get shaken up by someone's abominable statements.

All these people(of all religions) who just spread hate in the name of protecting their RELIGION, GOD, PROPHET(PBUH), RITUALS, should get it clear that no religion wants enmity, violence, or any kind of wrong in its name.

Secondly, the media ought to be the fourth pillar of democracy, but if its nuisance, hateful debates are making a strain on the same democracy then it's high time that media should also realise its responsibilities and perform its duties sensibly.

Thirdly, people should start respecting others beliefs; we all know that in ancient-medieval India, the age of marriage for girls was between 6 to 8 years, check any fact or any detail about any religion you will find the same; and that's why "Age of Consent Act" came into existence in Modern India in 1891. So mocking others for the same thing which was performed by your religious deities too is just going to start a never ending debate and nothing else.

And lastly, hate can never be an answer to deal with the hatred. We all should realise where we are heading towards as a country. We currently have one of the best workforce, resources and culture in the world. But this growing difference among ourselves is not going to help any one of us.

It's our responsibility to think as a nation. The environment in which I grew up, neither I was discriminated against nor I taught to discriminate with anyone on the basis of religion. I visited both temples and gurudwaras and my "Non-Muslim" friends visited Dargah and Masjid with me. We Indians are the best example of "UNITY IN DIVERSITY" and it is our strength. Different people of different cultures live together like a family in almost every locality irrespective of their religion.

Every religion shares the common belief, and that is, PEACE AND KINDNESS!